Korea

 

Seoul

We arrived at Gimpo Airport in Seoul around 8 PM and took an Uber to our service apartment at Wecostay Gangnam. The small studio apartment was well-designed with lots of storage and a kitchen. After a good night's sleep, we had a quick instant breakfast, unpacked, and relaxed. We also did laundry using the washing machine, drying clothes on the provided rack. Using Google Translate helped us operate appliances, including a high-tech bidet.

For lunch, we cooked simple dhal and rice. In the afternoon, we visited the Starfield Library at COEX Mall, famous for its 13-meter-tall bookshelves and 50,000+ books. Most books were in Korean, but the atmosphere was relaxing. We enjoyed coffee from % ARABICA, which also sold international coffee beans.

Next, we visited Bongeunsa Temple, saw Buddha statues, fall colors, and snow. After sunset, we checked out the iconic Gangnam sculpture playing K-pop music. We explored Seoul at night, did some Black Friday shopping for winter jackets, and enjoyed a circular treadmill at the mall. We also had fun taking pictures at a photo booth with props.

Afterward, we returned home and had a nice home-cooked dinner using instant food packets given by a friend.

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DMZ (Demilitarized zone)

We left our apartment early and took a cab to Myeongdong, where we boarded the DMZ tour bus. Our guide Nancy shared a lot about the Korean War, North Korea, and the DMZ.

Our first stop was Gamaksan Red Suspension Bridge, the longest tower-less suspension bridge in South Korea at 150 meters. The views were beautiful. Next, we visited Imjingak Park, the last civilian-accessible area in South Korea. Nancy explained the economic differences between North and South Korea and the DMZ’s history. The DMZ is a 4-km-wide peace zone filled with mines, making it impossible to cross. A few families farm rice and ginseng there under strict rules.

We took a gondola ride over the Imjingak River and saw the Freedom Bridge, an old train station, and the Peace Bell. At the DMZ, a soldier checked our passports. We couldn’t take photos in many areas. We explored the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, built by North Korea but discovered before an attack. Wearing helmets, we walked through the narrow tunnel and saw dynamite blast marks.

At Dora Observatory, we saw North Korea, both flags, and the Joint Security Area. We even heard propaganda speakers broadcasting from South Korea. The speakers were loud enough to be heard in the nearest North Korean city, 20 km away. Afterward, we visited the DMZ Unification Village, where we bought six-year-old ginseng tea and ate our packed lunch.

The tour was an unforgettable experience. Before returning to our apartment, we visited Healthy But Awesome Flavors (HBAF) store, the largest processed nut brand in South Korea to buy flavored almonds and picked up groceries at Emart.

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Gyeongbokgung Palace

We had a relaxing day, waking up late and enjoying a brunch before heading to Gyeongbok Palace to watch the changing of the royal guards. First, we saw a training session outside the gate, then watched the actual ceremony inside the palace. The guards wore 15th-century costumes based on historical records, making it an interesting experience.

Afterward, we visited a Hanbok rental shop, where I quickly chose a traditional Korean dress. They helped me dress up, added hair decorations, and gave me a matching purse. At first, I wasn’t sure about my choice, but the photos showed it looked great. Despite the cold, I enjoyed walking around the palace in the Hanbok, taking many photos. Snow falling from the roofs occasionally made us cautious while walking. After two hours, we returned the dresses and picked up our backpacks. The shop is run by a friendly Korean family who lived in Australia.

Feeling cold, we warmed up with chamomile tea at a coffee shop. Later, we went to Namsan Seoul Tower, taking a cable car up the mountain. The city lights at night were beautiful despite the chilly weather. Returning home, we had dinner and started packing. We carefully sorted trash and recycling, as Korea has strict rules for waste disposal.

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